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October 10, 2006

video

Support for PBS comes from viewers like you…and iTunes?

Posted Oct. 10, ’06, 8:12 AM PT by Dan Moren
Category | Video

PBSSure, we’ve got ABC, NBC, CBS, and FOX (what, no CW?) on the iTunes Store, but what of the other major broadcast network? Well, PBS finally joins the iTunes Store today, with an assortment of seven shows from both its kid and adult programming. Besides amusing your young’uns with episodes of Arthur, Cyberchase, and Fetch! with Ruff Ruffman, you can also style to the educational likes of Antiques Roadshow, NOVA, NOW, and Scientific American Frontiers. No News Hour with Jim Lehrer? Travesty.

Pricing presents an interesting question. PBS programs are, after all, freely broadcast without commercial interruption, yet the shows are selling for $1.99 an episode (except for NOVA which, as of this writing, was listed at a surprisingly high $7.99 per episode). It could be a good additional revenue source for public television, which can certainly use whatever money comes its way, but will people pay for content that’s already freely available without commercials?

Then again, if there’s no fundraising drives either, perhaps they will. I love my local WGBH Boston dearly, but telethons set my teeth on edge.


3 Comments

anon said:

PBS and its producers often have to fight to get redistribution rights for some of the footage they use in a lot of their programming. Eyes on the Prize never appearing on VHS or DVD is one famous example.

I would expect that this has something to do with the price of Nova episodes.

October 10, 2006 9:24 AM
fletcher said:

The NOVA pricing does show that Apple is more flexible than people give them credit. iTunes also has many albums which are bargain priced at $7.99 (like the back catalog of Enigma).

I still would like to see more variable pricing for TV shows however. I might buy some Aqua Teen Hunger Force, School House Rock, or Saturday Night Live videos, but I just can't bring myself to pay $1.99 for a 3-4 minute segment when the same money brings me an entire half hour or hour long TV show.

October 10, 2006 2:06 PM
James said:

I feel it is ok for PBS to sell online. Remember even non-profit organizations can sell things, it matters how the money is spent once it is collected.

My only complaint is that they are not using the medium to the fullest. Why not list all NOVA episodes dating back to 1974? What about Frontline? There are many programs I wouldnt mind paying for in the catalog. Kids will also love downloading Arthur.

I don't see a price issue, I see a library issue.

October 10, 2006 2:09 PM

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